AFCON 2025
Minnesota Lynx forward, Napheesa Collier has intensified the conversation around player pay in the WNBA after disclosing details of a private conversation with commissioner, Cathy Engelbert.
Collier said that during discussions with Engelbert, she raised concerns about the low salaries of young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, despite their role in driving new levels of revenue and attention to the league.
According to Collier, Engelbert responded that Clark “should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court, because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t be making anything.” Collier also claimed the commissioner told players they should “thank their lucky stars” for the media rights deal negotiated under her leadership.
The revelations came in Collier’s postseason exit interview, where she also criticized the league’s officiating and leadership, calling it “the worst in the world.”
The comments have drawn widespread attention, particularly with the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement set to expire on October 31, 2025.
